R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI FEB 27
Tamil Nadu will see a triangular contest in the Assembly polls to capture the ‘Fort’. The ruling AIADMK, BJP, PMK, DMDK, and TMC combine will take on the formidable alliance of DMK, Congress, and Muslim parties.
Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) is emerging as the third and viable front. ‘Tyagathalaivi’ Chinnamma’s AMMK will play spoilsport for the EPS-OPS combine, say political pundits.
Called on Hon’ble @CMOTamilNadu Shri E Palaniswamy at his residence in Chennai today along with Union MoS Shri @Gen_VKSingh, @BJP4TamilNadu President Shri @Murugan_TNBJP and @BJP4India GS Shri @CTRavi_BJP.@EPSTamilNadu pic.twitter.com/Tj4XHG2VhC
— G Kishan Reddy (Modi Ka Parivar) (@kishanreddybjp) February 27, 2021
Hon MoS Shri @kishanreddybjp Called on Hon’ble Dy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu & AIADMK chief Shri O Panneerselvam at his residence in Chennai today along with Union MoS Shri @Gen_VKSingh, @BJP4TamilNadu President Shri @Murugan_TNBJP & @BJP4India GS Shri @CTRavi_BJP@OfficeOfOPS pic.twitter.com/SrUdnoGHoI
— Office of G. Kishan Reddy (@KishanReddyOfc) February 27, 2021
The ruling AIADMK and BJP commenced the talks for sharing seats for the April 6 assembly election in the state. Both the parties are likely to arrive at a consensus soon.
A delegation from the BJP which included Union Ministers Kishan Reddy, Gen V K Singh, BJP national general secretary in-charge of Tamil Nadu C T Ravi, state party chief L Murugan, held discussions with Chief Minister and AIADMK co-coordinator K Palaniswami and AIADMK coordinator and Deputy CM O Panneerselvam, on Saturday separately. BJP state organising general secretary Kesava Vinayagan was also present during the talks. The parleys, according to a BJP senior, were cordial and the deal is likely to be clinched soon.
“Our expectation is for 60 assembly constituencies, which we have identified as winnable seats. They (AIADMK) may have their plans. The numbers which will be agreeable to both the parties will be announced,” BJP senior M Chakravarthy said.
The AIADMK will hold separate talks with a delegation from the PMK this evening. Actor-politician Vijaykanth-led Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and G K Vasan’s Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) are the other allies of the AIADMK.
Kamal, the rising star on the political horizon of Dravidian land
மக்கள் நீதி மய்யம் கட்சியின் பத்திரிக்கையாளர் சந்திப்பில் தலைவர் திரு.கமல் ஹாசன் அவர்கள்… #சீரமைப்போம்_தமிழகத்தை #தலைநிமிரட்டும்தமிழகம் #கமல்ஆளட்டும்தமிழகம்_மீளட்டும் #மக்கள்மனதில்மநீம https://t.co/0VjdhvFTWc
— Makkal Needhi Maiam | மக்கள் நீதி மய்யம் (@maiamofficial) February 27, 2021
Meanwhile, R Sarath Kumar, founder of All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK) who had been in alliance with the AIADMK for a decade, called on Kamal Haasan, founder of Makkal Needhi Maiam party here on Saturday to discuss the possibility of forging electoral ties for the upcoming election. Speaking to reporters here, he said his party had a chunk of vote bank in Tamil Nadu.
மக்கள் நீதி மய்யம் கட்சியின் பத்திரிக்கையாளர் சந்திப்பில் தலைவர் திரு.கமல் ஹாசன் அவர்கள்… #சீரமைப்போம்_தமிழகத்தை #தலைநிமிரட்டும்தமிழகம் #கமல்ஆளட்டும்தமிழகம்_மீளட்டும் #மக்கள்மனதில்மநீம https://t.co/La682nVbsS
— Makkal Needhi Maiam | மக்கள் நீதி மய்யம் (@maiamofficial) February 27, 2021
“AISMK was in the AIADMK alliance for 10 years. We waited for a call from the AIADMK, but there was no word. We have decided to move on,” Sarath Kumar said and added that he would strive for a change in Tamil Nadu. He had called on Haasan as it was nice for like-minded people to meet, said Sarath Kumar who earlier this week, called on VK Sasikala, the ousted AIADMK general secretary at her residence hereafter she returned to Chennai from Karnataka.
Announcing alliance with Indhiya Jananayaka Katchi (IJK), a political party floated by Lok Sabha MP Paarivendhar, who heads the SRM group of institutions, Sarath Kumar said he has joined hands with IJK to contest the elections “with good people.”